Q1. Could you please start by introducing yourself to our readers?
Dr. Helmut Schuster grew up in Austria and now lives in London, UK. He was previously Group HR Director of BP plc and Chairman of the Board of Ivoclar Vivadent. Today, alongside writing books focused on offering a distinctive new option for NextGen entrepreneurs and leaders, he serves on the boards of several dynamic start-up businesses, including ExpectAI, a Greentech enterprise. He is an active entrepreneur and investor, and a frequent contributor to leadership and AFS Intercultural programs. He earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Vienna.
Q2. Why did you choose fiction as the vehicle for such a timely and serious career topic rather than a traditional advice book?
Well, our books aren’t strictly fiction or non-fiction. We tell a story and then provide explanations for the themes we embedded in the story. But, storytelling is such a powerful way to reveal truths, spark imagination, and inspire introspection on important themes.
Our brain uses stories to help us organize our memories, deal with emotions, establish our identities, and transmit our culture across generations. And its eternal. From cave paintings and oral myths to books, films, and digital media.
It’s also distinctive at least when it comes to business and leadership books. That’s a key point for us.
Q3. Which part of your book “Artificial Death of a Career” proved to be the most challenging to write, and why?
Oh gosh. Writing is a complex process and takes a lot of time. My reflection is that there were two main challenges with our latest book. The first is consistent with all our books, and that’s deciding where to start. We know what we want to write about and why, but the how always proves to be the biggest first step. What is the story that conveys our points in the most powerful way?
The second was making sure we didn’t fall into the trap of becoming transactional—of viewing AI as the problem to solve. We humans are very versatile, and technology moves every 10–20 years. So, it was important for us to help people put that in perspective, to gain confidence from how we navigated other significant changes.
Q4. How do you typically celebrate once you’ve completed a book?
We have breakfast and eat croissants and black raspberries. That is our indulgence. To return to the place we first discussed writing a series of books. Obviously we have had public book launch events that have become their own big thing. But we like to spend time just reflecting on the journey.
Q5. The title Artificial Death of a Career is striking. What does “death” mean here—an ending, a transformation, or a wake-up call?
Ah. We debated whether Death in the title was a good idea. What we mean here is that our careers are in danger of artificially or unnecessarily being interrupted, unless we wake up and do something about it. It is of course a metaphor. No one dies in the book. But, we believe that the world frames the urgency and dangers of putting your career on auto-pilot.
Q6. Who do you hope this book reaches the most—early-career professionals, mid-career experts, or leaders already navigating AI adoption?
All of the above. We read a lot about people suffering from “boreout” or “quiet quitting.” The phenomenon of people doing only what is necessary to earn a salary. We want to help those people find the motivation and practical steps to take charge of and own their destiny: to reinvent themselves not just to avoid the ravages of AI, but also to find something more compelling, more rewarding, more vital. We believe work is such an important influence on how we feel about the world. It can be a positive and liberating thing.
Q7. What kinds of books did you enjoy reading during your childhood?
Jules Verne was a favorite of mine. I loved his imagination. It was inspiring, compelling, and so distinctive.
Q8. The book emphasizes being “future-ready.” If readers could adopt just one mindset shift after finishing the book, what would you want it to be?
Well, beyond going to buy and read our other books? Yes, I think we try to provide our readers with frameworks and reflection for them to find their own path. We do believe everyone is unique, and it is important not to offer one solution. However, yes, the punchline might be to embrace our CAFFEINE and TICK mnemonics. These are the tools we suggest for people to stay engaged and always looking forward to what’s next.
Q9. How has the experience of writing and publishing a book influenced your perception of yourself?
I have loved writing with David. And learning the publishing business. My main take away is how much fun and unwork like doing something you care about can be. Writing a book is a business venture. It has meetings, deadlines, administration. It’s not without a share of chores. But, like Mary Poppins said “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and—snap!—the job’s a game.”
Q10. You’ve said your goal is to help at least one person navigate a difficult career challenge. What kind of message or feedback from readers would make you feel this book truly succeeded?
We love hearing from people who have read our books and tell us they meant something to them, even if it was just a few hours of entertainment. However, my favorite story was from someone who said they had never felt able to express their deepest reservations and fears about work. After reading one of our books, they felt braver, more liberated, and less alone. They said we seemed to have written about something they thought only they felt. Now they realize that almost everyone is struggling with the same themes.
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